Page 73 of All Bets are Off

When I finish my drink, I rinse out the cup in the kitchen sink and head back upstairs. Logan’s still asleep, but he’s turned onto his other side, facing away from me.

Settling in behind him, I close my eyes and begin to drift off, the warm milk working its magic. Before I succumb to sleep, I promise myself I’m going to find a way to show Logan how much he matters to me.

****

The next couple of weeks are busy ones. Several cases come in that have us scrambling. Jase and I try to keep Logan’s schedule light, so he can spend time with his mother. She’s stopped asking for me so much, but she hasn’t really warmed up to Logan. Unless you consider going from throwing things and berating him to completely ignoring himwarming up.

Early one morning, I walk outside after my work out in the gym to find Logan standing in the backyard, head down, one hand on his hip and the other holding his cell phone to his ear.

“Thanks for telling me, Donna,” I hear him say before he turns around.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, worried.

“The nurse called to let me know that Mom’s lost continence, and they’re putting diapers on her. She’s also not been eating well yesterday and today.”

“I’m sorry.” I find myself saying that a lot because there really is nothing else to say.

“She would hate losing her dignity like this,” Logan says miserably.

“I’m glad she doesn’t realize it,” I say.

Turning his head, Logan squints into the sun. His mind seems far away.

“I signed a DNR last week when I met with her doctor,” he finally says.

My stomach clenches. We both know there’s no reason to resuscitate. Death is the kindest thing that can happen to Gloria now. Enfolding Logan in my arms, I hold him close. He stands stiffly for a moment, then relaxes into the embrace, resting his head on my shoulder.

“Hey, don’t forget our dinner reservation tonight,” I tell him.

He raises his head. “Oh, I did forget. What’s the occasion?”

“Do I have to have a reason to want to take out my handsome boyfriend?”

Logan’s cheeks redden. “That sounds so strange coming from you.”

“Good strange or bad strange?”

Logan ducks his head, mumbling, “Good strange.”

I laugh and kiss his cheek. “I have to run some papers downtown and I know you have things to do. Just remember our reservation’s at seven-thirty, okay? And dress up a little.”

I’ve been meaning to take him on a real date for a while now, but our schedules haven’t allowed it. He’s been sleeping better, but he still has those dark circles under his eyes.

Looking at my watch, I hurry in order to get my work finished in time. After I deliver papers to a client, I stop at a florist.

“Can I help you find something?” a young woman asks.

“I need a bouquet of flowers. They’re for a man,” I add because I want something that isn’t too feminine, and then, “My boyfriend,” because I’m feeling brave.

“Do you have a particular price range?” the woman asks, not even blinking an eye.

I give her one, and she proceeds to tell me the meanings of various flowers so she can put together a custom bouquet for me.

By the time I get home, I have an hour to get ready for dinner. Leaving the flowers in the car, I head inside to shave and change. By the time I’m finished, Logan’s waiting for me downstairs.

“You look nice,” I tell him because he really does. The burgundy shirt he’s wearing with a pair of dark slacks complements his skin tone and hair color.

“So do you,” he says, smiling.

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